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    Kafe Botanika

    4.3 (33 reviews)
    InexpensiveVegetarian, Asian Fusion
    Closed 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Kafe Botanika Photos

    KAFE BOTANIKA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Montage of images from Kafe Botanika
    Ed U.

    San Sebastián is the type of relaxing and inviting town where Jamie W. and I ended up thinking maybe a day and a half just wasn't enough time here. Our vacation took place mainly in Barcelona, but my wanderlust couldn't help but wedge in a small side trip to the Basque country with this seaside jewel the ideal introduction. You would think we would go on a pinxtos crawl straight away, but we decided to look for something a bit healthier on our first evening there even if it meant veering away from the hopping and happening Old Town. Leisurely walking toward the Urumea River, we found ourselves in front of a vintage-looking building with a nice garden patio where a group of young revelers were already settling in for the evening, perhaps on their own pinxto break . It was fairly vacant inside where only a couple of laptoppers were too preoccupied to notice we entered, but it was a pleasing open space with a wide open bar and large communal tables (photo). We were both a bit parched and with no Diet Coke in sight, we ordered a couple of the freshly made 4€ juices - the Carrot Juice which also included apple, lemon, and ginger, as well as the Kale Juice which also included apple and lemon (photo: http://bit.ly/2hUa2G4). Both were lusciously refreshing. We started our dinner in earnest by sharing the 13.50€ Tomato Salade with Burrata, which was merely a large platter of sliced tomatoes, slightly underripe, with a dollop of burrata on top (photo: http://bit.ly/2iF7MzD). It definitely worked as a palate cleanser. We decided to split two other dishes as well. The first was the 12.50€ Kimchi Tacos with Grilled Spicy King Prawns, a clear winner when it came to mammoth portions and fortunately they had potent flavors to match, and the prawns were plump and juicy (photo: http://bit.ly/2jNmXdc). Our meal shifted quickly from vegetarian to flexatarian, but it was worth the sacrifice. The second was the deliciously fresh 12.50€ Thai Salade, which was a healthy mix of carrot, zucchini, spring onions, spinach, peanuts, and cilantro in a bowl lined with a pesto dressing (photo: http://bit.ly/2jKStsl). We were sated and ended the mostly healthy feast with a couple of 1.50€ Coffee Milks (Cafe con Leches) to fuel us for the long walk back to the hotel (photo: http://bit.ly/2BcwDlJ). FOOD - 4 star...the tacos were the bomb and so were the juices AMBIANCE - 4 stars...spacious with a hippy-dippy vibe that we gravitated toward SERVICE - 4 stars...nice people here TOTAL...a refreshing break from the standard pinxto crawl

    Entrance
    B M.

    This place is incredible. The reviews about customer service are obviously from people that don't understand the laid back culture. Yes there are only a couple waitresses, but it's a beautiful garden cafe, hang out for a bit and don't be so impatient. Also they are very friendly to English speakers. The English menu is on the back of the Spanish/basque one. Anyway.. The food awesome. Everything felt healthy and energizing. Tons of veggies and vegan options. It's a great place to go when you need a break from the traditional cuisine. We had the falafel and hummus, both delicious. And then we shared the lunch special which was gazpacho and polenta with pepper sauce. We're already planning to go back for breakfast and dinner because we saw an amazing quiche and delicious looking desserts.

    Cheese board
    Amy A.

    We really enjoyed our experience at this nice little cafe. If it had not been raining, I would have loved to sit outside. It has great outdoor seating with hanging lights. (The lights help you identify its location, so you can't miss it!) It has a very welcoming and laid back environment. I really appreciate that this place provides plenty of water and doesn't charge you. Other restaurants have charged for water, and it can get frustrating when you are dehydrated from exploring during travels. The curry meals are delicious! I definitely enjoyed our cheese board as a tapa to start. The hamburger was juicy and cooked perfectly to our request. The cod was fresh and had great texture. We enjoyed every bite and the welcoming environment. It's definitely worth the experience for the environment!

    House curry with prawns
    Angela S.

    Ordered house curry with prawns and fish of the day. Fish was good; house curry was excellent!!! Dessert (comes with dish of the day) was carrot cake with drizzled icing and strawberries; very yummy as well. Recommend! FYI came for lunch gets very busy around 2pm.

    Curry with langustinos
    Mikey B.

    Very good stuff. I had a curry with langostinos that I enjoyed very much. It was quiet on a Sunday night so no problem getting a table at 9. Service and food were very good. A great option for vegetarians and their friends. A nice change from pintxchos too.

    Sage B.

    I'm sad to give this place 3 stars since the food was delicious but the service was SO bad that I couldn't possibly rank them any higher. We waited over an HOUR once we were finished with our food for the check to come. They are extremely understaffed- I only saw 1 waiter for the entire patio and dining room inside. It's sad because without that issue, I would rave about this place. Aside from the service, the hummus plate and the prawn curry were amazing!

    Poached pear with chocolate sauce dessert

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    3 years ago

    La comida es bueno y la gente son simpáticos. Muy saludable y sabrosos. El ambiente es bonita y tranquila

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    5 years ago

    This place is super cute and cool and the food was incredible. Don't miss the pumpkin stuffed with burrata- I'll be dreaming about it.

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    12 years ago

    Very cosy San Francisco style. The patio is amazing. Perfect for a coffee with a cute donostiarra.

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    10 years ago

    Fantastic place for breakfast! Such a cute little courtyard/garden in the front. Nice helpful people working there.

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    9 years ago

    Super cute cafe with delicious food. The breakfast menu is great and the juices are amazing!! Would eat here again

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    11 years ago

    Cozy/chill little bar and cafe - great for drinks and snacking after a long day. Very pretty patio and area to sit outside

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    10 years ago

    Coffee isn't very good and the workers aren't nice. If you're not Basque or Spanish probably don't go there

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    Kafe Botanika Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Kafe Botanika

    Finally the falafel wrap was delicious as they added pickled radish which paired well with the falafel balls and taziki sauce.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Atari Gastroteka - Foie gras with sweet corn and white chocolate

    Atari Gastroteka

    4.5(157 reviews)
    0.9 km
    €€

    Atari was one of our favorite pintxos stops in San Sebastián. We sat outside in the open-air…read moreseating directly across from the beautiful Basilica of Saint Mary of the Chorus, and the setting couldn't have been better. Watching the square come alive in the evening while dining beneath the illuminated basilica made for a memorable experience. We ordered several pintxos to share, and every dish was excellent. The standout was the Carrillera (slow-braised beef cheek with mashed potatoes), which was incredibly tender, rich, and comforting. The Platillo de Bonito with tuna, anchovies, green peppers, and olives was fresh and full of classic Basque flavors. The Panceta (pork belly) was another highlight, perfectly crisp on the outside and meltingly tender inside. We also loved the creamy Croqueta de Jamón Ibérico, and the Bacalao Confitado con Pil Pil de Piquillos was beautifully cooked, with delicate cod and a silky piquillo pepper pil pil sauce. We couldn't resist trying the Pintxo Especial as well, and it was a great addition to the meal. The staff were warm and accommodating, helping us get a table outside and making us feel welcome throughout the evening. Inside, the restaurant has a lively, authentic Basque atmosphere, but the outdoor seating overlooking one of San Sebastián's most iconic churches makes the experience even more special. If you're looking for traditional Basque pintxos in a fantastic location, Atari is an easy recommendation. We'd happily come back on our next visit.

    Service was good and restaurant was nice not too crowded and lots of options to choose from on the…read moremenu. They also had the menu in english which is helpful. We opted for a few pintxos for lunch while we were visiting town. We also had a couple of drinks my husband got whiskey with coke and I asked for a local cocktail since I'm not much of a wine drinker. I was handed a cup of pacharán which was a bit strong but was nice to try something different. The pintxos came out one at a time which was nice we were able to fully enjoy each on their own. The bao was the only one I didn't really like mostly the bun part. It didn't taste like it was cooked all the way and was a bit gummy and there was not a lot of meat filling. Next was the lamb which was really tender and flavorful. The couscous was ok nothing special and not much seasoning to it. Then the beef cheek and mashed potatoes came out which was the star of the pintxos that we had. It was also very tender and the mash was also cooked perfectly. All of this was shared between the two of us and was very filling. The waiter let us know that some of the pinxtos could also be ordered in a full size if we wanted. We enjoyed sampling the pinxtos and would definitely recommend coming here to get a taste of local cuisine.

    Photos
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka
    Atari Gastroteka

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    La Cuchara de San Telmo - My favorite

    La Cuchara de San Telmo

    4.4(137 reviews)
    1.0 km
    €€

    As a warning, you should get here before they open and wait in line because if not, it's a mad…read morehouse. You can get in where you fit in. And just like all the pixtos bars here, seats are for larger portions or set menus and not pixtos. They are known for their suckling pig. Their skin is so crispy and their meat is nice and juicy. Beef cheek is also a must try! We also got the foie gras which was really good. Razor clams was also delicious. Octopus was also a hit, crispy with soft interior. Kids loved the entrecôte. Risotto was good, but wasn't my favorite. Octopus was nice and tender. We ended up going twice here, food is delicious! Service was excellent too, Alejandro always asked if we needed anything and super friendly with our kids too.

    Believe all the 5-stars! Worth the 40min wait. We arrived early and they opened 15min late, all…read moreworthwhile. Staff, both front & back, were exceptional. No bad attitudes displayed considering the sheer volume of people & chaos. The four cooks churned out food like soldiers...major kudos to the young team. My only suggestion would be to redirect the line to the second door that leads to the outdoor dining. People didn't know to move forward b/c all the people waiting blocked the flow. I'd also get rid of the round tables outside and build a long skinny standing table. Favorite was the hake. I usually avoid seafood due to sensitivities but what the hey, a bite here & there on holiday won't kill, plus, if you're gonna risk it, this region is as good as it'll get for clean seafood. The scallop was my 2nd favorite. We didn't get the beef cheeks b/c we were going to have steaks later...wished we had, looked divine. If there's just 2of you, opt for the smallest so you can chomp on different pintxos.

    Photos
    La Cuchara de San Telmo
    La Cuchara de San Telmo
    La Cuchara de San Telmo - Razor clams

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    Razor clams

    Casa Vergara 1948

    Casa Vergara 1948

    4.0(14 reviews)
    0.9 km

    One of the many pinxto places in the old town. They had an array of choices but the sea urchin…read morewasn't the classic soupy one. The others appeared to have been there awhile, a hazard of the places that aren't slinging as fast as they can make them. The few spots to stand at a high top in the street were nice as it is right across from a historic church and at the T intersection of two busy pedestrian streets. So good location but may be worth the wait elsewhere.

    Casa Vergara was the sleeper hit of our pintxo crawl, introduced by an Airbnb guide and instantly…read moreetched into memory. We ate like happy vagrants on the church steps across the way, because Atari is perpetually slammed, which it ought to be given how deftly they marry quality and price. A piece of white fish arrived lacquered in squid ink so the exterior went midnight-black while the flesh stayed pearly and perfectly moist; saffron threads perfumed the whole thing, and it sat in a sauce so impossibly good I found myself chasing every last streak with bread. A pepper stuffed with crab was light and also dotted with umami squid ink sauce. Then came a sea urchin, baked in its own shell under a light cheese gratin, the roe turning lush and custardy beneath the heat. The texture-and-flavor duet was one of those Basque-country revelations that resists translation into words and simply has to be experienced. Service was quick and good-humored despite the crush, prices were more than fair, and the whole scene (glasses clinking, plates migrating out to the steps) felt like a postcard of San Sebastián come to life. I would eat here every day if I could.

    Photos
    Casa Vergara 1948
    Casa Vergara 1948
    Casa Vergara 1948 - Casa Vegara from outside

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    Casa Vegara from outside

    Borda Berri - Right- crispy pork ears, Left- duck

    Borda Berri

    4.5(123 reviews)
    0.8 km

    No trip to San Sebastián is complete without a pintxos crawl, and after seeing Borda Berri…read morerecommended over and over again, we knew we had to include it on ours. We actually stopped by the day before, but it was already closed, so we made sure to come back the following evening. It was definitely worth it. Unlike many pintxos bars where the food is already displayed on the counter, everything here is cooked to order. The place is small, lively, and always packed, with people spilling out onto the narrow streets of the Old Town while waiting for their dishes. It has that energetic atmosphere that makes San Sebastián's food scene so much fun. We ordered the dishes the bar is best known for, starting with the Carrillera de Ternera (beef cheek). It was unbelievably tender, rich, and practically melted with every bite. We also tried the famous Idiazabal "risotto," which isn't actually risotto but creamy orzo pasta cooked with smoked Idiazabal cheese. It was comforting, creamy, and completely different from anything we'd had before. One surprise of the evening was the tomato salad. It sounds simple, but the tomatoes were incredibly sweet and juicy, finished with excellent olive oil and flaky sea salt. Sometimes the simplest dishes leave the biggest impression. I noticed almost every table ordering the Pork Rib "Kebab," one of the restaurant's signature dishes, so that's definitely on my list for next time. If you're planning a pintxos crawl through San Sebastián's Old Town, Borda Berri deserves a stop. Come early if you can, expect to stand, order a few of the house specialties, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. It's easy to see why this little bar has become such a favorite among both locals and visitors.

    I gave this place one star because the woman working at the front was extremely rude. She seemed…read moreannoyed that customers were ordering food and treated people with little patience or courtesy. I understand that it can get busy, but customer service is a big part of the job, and her attitude made the experience unpleasant. What stood out most was that she was so dismissive and unfriendly toward several customers. Her behavior was so off-putting that it took away from my ability to enjoy the food, which was actually good. If dealing with customers is that frustrating for her, a position with less public interaction might be a better fit.

    Photos
    Borda Berri
    Borda Berri
    Borda Berri

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    Kafe Botanika - vegetarian - Updated July 2026

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